On Sunday, April 2, a group of peaceful antiwar protesters gathered outside the Boston Public Library to demonstrate against neocon Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was scheduled to attend an event at the Rabb Auditorium. Two of the protesters, John Walsh and Rich Aucoin of NOM (birddoggingkerry.org), decided to enter the library with a 3ft x 5ft banner bearing the slogan: "Bush Lies. Hillary Complies. Thousands Die." The pair stood quietly with their banner approximately 20 feet away from the reception table for the event, which was positioned immediately outside the library's Rabb Auditorium. No library patrons were disturbed in any way by the presence of the banner.

A library security guard approached Walsh and Aucoin and asked the pair: "Who gave you permission to hold a sign in here?" Walsh responded by citing the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution, noting that the library is public property and therefore anyone may peaceably hold a sign in the library. The guard rejected Walsh's claim and instructed the pair to leave the building.

The pair refused to obey the guard, who then called Boston Police. When the Boston police arrived, the officer in charge claimed that library security have the authority to expel anyone they wish. Aucoin rejected this claim and demanded to know a legitimate reason for their being forced to leave a public building. The Boston police officer responded by saying the official reason would need to come from a library employee, and the library employee - the same security guard - said the official reason would need to come from the library president. Aucoin demanded to see the library president, but was told that the president was not in the building.

Walsh and Aucoin were then escorted out of the building by the secuity guard and the Boston police.

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"The Boston police officer responded by saying the official reason would need to come from a library employee, and the library employee - the same security guard - said the official reason would need to come from the library president. Aucoin demanded to see the library president, but was told that the president was not in the building."